Saladang Song

Pasadena, CA

Saladang Song’s cuisine, a fusion of Thai and California fare, offers a way to approach its architecture.

The design seeks to embrace its larger context by using the tilt-up construction methods of the immediate industrial neighborhood in Pasadena. At the same time, laser-cut steel screens, derived from traditional Thai textiles, reference the cultural antecedents of the establishment and serve as a “sign” for the restaurant.

The courtyard is placed next to the street in the spirit of the Thai roadside “sala”—a place for nourishment and rest. A third floor penthouse and herb garden serve the proprietor, “Dang.”